ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
• The endocrine system includes the endocrine
glands and their hormones
• The function of the endocrine system is to
secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
• Hormone: A Chemical messenger which
targets a specific group of cells, in order to
cause that group of cells do some activity or
stop doing an activity.
 ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
• Exocrine glands release their secretions into ducts, or
tubes
• Liver Bile released into the gallbladder, then through a duct
into the small intestine
• Pancreas releases pancreatic juice into the small intestine via
a duct
• Endocrine Glands are called ductless glands
• Release hormones directly into the bloodstream
• Blood transports hormones throughout the body
• Each hormone acts on only a certain kind of tissue called its
target tissue
 ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
• Each hormone acts on a certain kind of tissue called its target tissue
 HUMAN ENDOCRINE GLANDS

• Pituitary
• Thyroid
• Parathyroid
• Adrenal
• Pancreas (Islets of
Langerhans)
• Testes and Ovaries
 PITUITARY
• Pituitary gland is a round organ about the size of a
pea (~1 cm in diameter), located behind the bridge
of the nose at the base of the brain
• Secretes 9 different hormones, which affect many
different areas of the body, including:
• Growth
• Blood pressure
• Regulation of Pregnancy
• Breast milk production
• Sex organ functions in both men and women
• Thyroid gland function
• Metabolism
• Water regulation in the body (kidneys)
• Temperature regulation
 A FEW PITUITARY HORMONES
Hormone
Growth Hormone (GH)
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
(TSH)
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Regulate puberty, development,
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Function
To increase body size during
childhood and adolescence; to
maintain body size during adulthood
To stimulate the thyroid to produce
thyroxin
and reproductive processes
Stimulates the production of
estrogen and testosterone
 GROWTH HORMONE
• Oversecretion of growth hormone:
• Giantism in childhood and acromegaly in adults (bones of face, hands and feet enlarge)

• Undersecretion of growth hormone:

• Dwarfism in childhood
 THYROID
• Located in the neck
• Releases hormone thyroxin
• Function is to regulate rates of
metabolism in the body
• Essential for normal physical and mental
development

• Oversecretion of thyroxin:
• Results in nervousness and weight loss
• Undersecretion of thyroxin:
• Results in cretinism (mental retardation,
small size) in children
 THYROID
• Iodine deficiency in your diet results in goiter (enlargement of
thyroid gland)
 PARATHYROID
Function is to control metabolism of
calcium
• Necessary for normal nerve and muscle
function, blood clotting, healthy bones
and teeth
• Located in back of thyroid gland (in
neck)
• Hormone released is parathormone
• Undersecretion of parathormone results
in nerve disorders, brittle bones and
clotting problems
The thymus gland has
two lobes, and is part
of the lymphatic
system. It is a
ductless gland, and
secretes thymosin.
This is necessary for
the Thymus’ normal
production of T cells
for the immune
system.
 ADRENAL GLANDS (KIDNEY
HATS)
• Located at the top of each kidney
• Hormones released are cortisone
and adrenaline
• Function of cortisone is to regulate
carbohydrate, protein and fat
metabolism
• promotes conversion of fats and
proteins to glucose

• Function of adrenaline is to raise

blood sugar levels and increases
heartbeat and breathing rates
 ADRENAL
• Undersecretion of adrenaline results in the inability to deal
with stress
 ISLET OF LANGERHANS
• Located on the pancreas
• Hormones secreted are insulin and
glucagon

• Insulin stimulates glucose uptake

by cells

• Glucagon promotes conversion of

glycogen (animal-based
carbohydrate) to glucose
 BLOOD SUGAR REGULATION
• Oversecretion of insulin results in low blood sugar
• Undersecretion of insulin results in high blood sugar
• This can lead to a condition known as diabetes
 DIABETES-TYPE 1
• Type 1- Usually found in
children and young adults; the
body doesn’t make enough
insulin
• Symptoms:
• Frequent urination
• Unusual thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Extreme fatigue and Irritability
 DIABETES- TYPE 2
• Type 2- Either the body doesn’t produce
enough insulin, or the cells ignore it.
• If you consume too much sugar over a
long period of time, your body has to
release large amounts of insulin. This
can result in your cells building up a
tolerance for insulin, which means they
won’t be affected by it.
• Symptoms:
• Any of the type 1 symptoms
• Frequent infections
• Blurred vision
• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
• Tingling/numbness in the
hands/feet
• Recurring skin, gum, or bladder
infections
 The ovaries produce
several estrogen hormones
and progesterone. These
hormones prepare the
uterus for pregnancy,
promote the development
of mammary glands, play a
role in sex drive, and
develop secondary sex
characteristics in the
female.
Estrogen is essential for the growth, development,
and maintenance of female sex organs.
During pregnancy, the
placenta serves as an
endocrine gland.

It produces
chorionic
gonadotropin
hormone,
estrogen, and
progesterone.
The testes produce
the male sex
hormone called
testosterone. It is
essential for normal
growth and
development of the
male sex organs.
Testosterone is
responsible for the
erection of the
penis.
 The mucosa of
the duodenum
and jejunum
secretes the
hormone
secretin, which
stimulates
pancreatic juice,
bile, and
intestinal
secretion.
 The mucosa
of the pyloric
area of the
stomach
secretes the
hormone
gastrin, which
stimulates the
production of
gastric acid
for digestion.
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM CONTROL

• Regulated by feedback mechanisms

• 2 types of feedback mechanisms
1. positive feedback
2. negative feedback
 FEEDBACK MECHANISMS
• Negative Feedback mechanisms:
• Act like a thermostat in a home
• As the temperature cools, the thermostat detects the change and
triggers the furnace to turn on and warm the house
• Once the temperature reaches its thermostat setting, the furnace
turns off
• Example: Body sugar increases after a meal, so the pancreas secretes
insulin, which tells the body’s cells to take in glucose. Once blood sugar
levels reach normal, the pancreas stops making insulin.
• Often used to maintain homeostasis
 FEEDBACK MECHANISMS
• Negative Feedback mechanisms:
regulating the level of glucose in the blood and 
osmoregulation.
Another is thermoregulation. Whenever body temperature
deviates, the mechanism starts to work to restore it to normal
range.
 occurs more often than the positive response in the homeostatic body
processes. Many illnesses are caused by a disturbance in the original body
system.
 NEGATIVE FEEDBACK

• Homeostasis is often maintained by two hormones

who have antagonistic effects
• Each hormone does the opposite of the other.
• For example, if the blood pressure drops too low, the pituitary
releases ADH, which causes the kidneys to reabsorb more
water. If it the blood pressure increases too much, then the
heart will release ANH, which will cause the kidneys to
reabsorb less water.
 POSITIVE FEEDBACK
MECHANISMS
• Positive Feedback mechanisms control events that can be
out of control and do not require continuous adjustment
• Rarely used to maintain homeostasis
• Example of positive feedback found in childbirth
• Oxytocin stimulates and enhances labor contractions
• As labor continues, more oxytocin is produced
• Intensifies contractions until the baby is outside birth canal
• Oxytocin production stops and labor contractions stop
 POSITIVE FEEDBACK
MECHANISMS

 Contractions at childbirth

 fruit ripening